Budget Cuts Claim Another.....

So I go into the office today at the Woodland Daily Democrat in Woodland, CA......I've been there for about three months, and am only two weeks away from gaining benefits with my probation period coming to an end.

So as soon as I get settled at my desk, my editor comes to me and requests that my SE and I step into his office. We walk in, and our HR rep is there. I am then told that my job has been cut due to budget reasons, and I am given my severance package.

Not that you can do anything about it, but just wait and see if they miraculously "find" enough money in the budget to hire somebody else in a month or so (who in turn will amazingly get laid off about 86 days into his 90-day probationary period). Some companies are famous for this shit -- they hire people knowing full well they're going to dump them before the benefits kick in. (Or, in turn, if there's a veteran staffer making too much money they want to get rid of instead, they figure out some excuse to whack the oldster and keep the rookie.)

At most of those places, the "severance package" consists of a banana box to crate up the stuff in your desk, and a security guard to walk you out the door.

If you paid your own way to move across state, signed a lease etc etc, tough shit for you. Welcome to 21st Century journalism.

Now take this opportunity to get as far away from this industry as you can. Become a fireman. Go back to school and become a teacher. Something other than this dying business that is bound to be left to only idiot bosses in another five years.

Follow this advice and in 25 years you'll thank me.

p.s. Out of curiosity, what kind of severance package do they have for someone who's only been there three months?